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Arena renovations could force VooDoo to alter schedule

Just heard them talking about this on the news. It's mostly about the Voodoo but there are mentions of the Hornets. If anyone is wondering when they plan on beginning renovations, they're saying around May 1.

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans VooDoo is looking for a new general manager.

GM Jon Norris was fired by the Arena football team after a disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs this year.

The team will spend the off-season trying to improve on an 8-11 record and finding a place to play many of its home games.

That's because the home turf at New Orleans Arena will not be available.

"We're anticipating closing the Arena down around May 1 to start this construction work and it will probably be closed for about five to five and a half months just in time to start the Hornets new preseason," said Arena General Manager Alan Freeman.

The state agreed to pay for $50 million in renovations as part of the lease deal that keeps Hornets basketball in the Arena through 2024.

Ha, couldn't agree more! Seriously, it really is a shame that the theatre's just sitting there in the condition it's in. If you do some digging, the owners are in to some really shady business...not a promising situation.

"Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been buried under taxes and frauds and maladministraions so that it has become a study for archaeologists...but it is better to live here in sackcloth and ashes than to own the whole state of Ohio."

Reading between the lines, it appears to me that the renovations/refurbishment to the NOrena will be substantial. I know the state is kicking in about $50 mill, but I wonder if the NBA or the Benson folks are putting up come $$$. If I'm not mistaken, the NFL contributed millions to the Superdome renovation.

Unsuitable? I'm sure that they could make the necessary adjustments for one season if they had to. I mean, the improvements to the main arena are only going to help both franchises in the long run. It just seems like unnecessary belly aching over being displaced for a moment. It's not like they're being asked to go play in the convention center or something!

One season for 'inside' improvements, one for 'outside', roughly speaking.

I wonder if Benson has enough juice to keep them from finding an "available" alternative. If they have to move to survive, or just straight up fold, then it seems like selling the Voodoo name would become pretty appealing.